Relief mechanism for storage batteries



C. C. CARPENTER.

RELIEF MECHANISM FOR STORAGE BATTERIES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1918.

1,403,539. P nted Jan-'17, 1922.

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A TTORNE Y.

CAMPBELL C. CARPENTER, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK,

& HEAT CORPORATION, OF NI YORK.

AGARA FALLS, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNOR TO U. S. LIGHT A CORPORATION OF NEW RELIEF MECHANISM FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

Specification of Letters Iatentr' Patented J a 17, 1922 Application filed February 25, 1918. Serial No. 218,961.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL PENTER, a citizen of the siding at Niagara Falls Niagara and'State of N vented new and Relief Mechanism useful C. CAR- United States, rein the county of ew York, have in- Improvements in for Storage Batteries, of

which the following is a specification.

The

resent invention relates to relief mechanism for storage batteries.

More particularly the p lates to means whereby from the interior of a s but which will prevent trolyte should the cell be resent invention regases may escape torage battery cell the escape of electilted to such a deon aeroplanes which, in

practice, are often tilted out of their normal positions. Various means have been evolved for ventilating storage batteries while pr eventing the escape of electrolyte, which means are usually located substantially centrally cover. to prevent the escape of tilting of said cell at angle.

The present invention of the cell Such means operate to close the cell electrolyte upon the a relatively small has for one of its objects the provision of means for ventilatin th% escape of electrolyte permitting the escape of terior of the cell when relatively great angle.

A further object is to accomplishing a storage battery cell and preventing at all times,

though gases from the inthe cell is tilted at a provide means for the above mentioned object which are simple to construct and effectual in operation.

Further objects will be scription proceeds. Figures 1 and vation and plan res apparent as the de- 2 represent in sectional eleectively, one embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention has been illustrated in connection with a storage battery cell having a rectangular out that most cells in comme outline. As will be un line, for the reason rcial use have such derstood from the description which follows, however, the invention is applicable to cells having an outline other than rectangular.

The numeral 1 indicates the walls storage battery cell.

of the Suitably mounted "ing apertures 16. 16,

upon said walls is a cover 2 adapted to be sealed to said walls to prevent the escape of electrolyte therebetween. The active elements within the Walls 1 of the cell are indicatedas a whole by the numeral? The details of the active elements 3 and the means by which said active elements have electrical communication with the exterior of the cell, form no part of the present invention and need not be described herein. It will be sufficient to state that said active elements may be connected to the exterior of the cell through straps 4, 4. V

The cover 2 may be provided with a suitable screw-threaded aperture 5 extending therethrough, into which may be screwed a valve member 6. The valve member 6 should be so intimately connected to the cover 2 as to prevent the escape of electrolyte therebetween. If preferred, any other means than screw-threads may be utilized for attaching the valve member 6. The details of the valve member 6 form no part of the present invention, but in order that the present invention may be readily understood, one form of valve member will be briefly described, which will be found useful in practice. The valve member 6 illustrated, comprises a cylindrical member mounted on the cover 2 so that its axis is normally vertical. Mounted within the valve member 6 is a bushing 7 which carries a cylinder memher 8 having a flared mouth portion 9. Mounted to move within the cylinder 8 is a plunger 10, having a head 11 adapted to fit within the mouth portion 9 and form a closure for said mouth portion 9. The upper end of plunger 10 may be provided with a shoulder 12 which may rest on the upper end of the cylinder 8. The plunger 10 should be of smaller diameter than the bore of the cylinder 8, whereby to readily permit passa e of gases between said plunger and said cy inder, The upper end of the cylinder 8 may be provided with fillets 13 ready communlcation may be had for gases upper side pies its lowermost position. The bottom portion of the valve member 6 may constitute a cu -shaped receptacle for holding a ball 14. he upper end of the valve member 6 may be provided with a cover 15 havwhereby to permit the whereby the gases from the undersi escape of ases from within the valve Inem- One embodiment of the present invenber 6 whiFe preventing the entrance of fortion has been described in detail. Many eign material. It need only be explained modifications will occur to those skllled 1n that when, the cell istilted to ,a predethe art. It is intended in this patent to termined degree, the ball 14 will move cover all such modifications that come w1thagainst the head 11 of the plunger 10, movin the scope of the present invention as deing said head 11 into closing position within fined by the appended claims. the mouth 9, thereby efi'ectually preventing What I claim as new and desire to secure the escape of electrolyte between plunger 10 by Letters Patent of the United States 1s and cylinder 8. When the cell is again 1. In combination, a storage battery cell moved to'a position whereby the ball 14 will having cell walls and a cover and a tube roll away from the head 11, the plunger 10 mounted on said cover arranged diagonally will drop, again permittin the access of of said cover providing a passage-way from dc to the upper the interior to the exterior of said cell, said side of the bushing 7. cover being provided with a layer of sealhe valve member 6 should be located ading material enveloping said tube to seal jacent to one corner of the cover 2. Ext e connection between said cover and walls tendin from the interior of the valve memand to protect said. tube from injury.- ber 6, elow the bushing 7 and extending to 2. In combination, a storage battery cell a point adjacent the corner of the cover 2 having cell walls, a cover and a tube, said which is diagonally placed with reference cell beln tightly closed except through said to the valve member 6, is a tube 17. Said tube, sai tube being arranged in proximity tube should have access to the interior of to said cover and extending between dia the cell at its end removed from the valve onally'opposite points of said cover, sald member 6. Sealing com ound 18 may be tube beingimperforate except at said'points, applied to the upper sid e of the cover 2, said tube providing a passage-way from the completely envelopin the tube 17, and interior to the exterior of said cell. tightly sealing the wal 1, cover 2 and tube. 3., In combination, a storage battery cell 17, whereby to prevent any undesirable having cell walls, a cover and means proescape of gases or electrolyte, and also pro: viding a passage-way from the interior to 5 tectlng the tube 17 a inst injury. the exterior of said cell, said cell being It will be clear rim the drawing and otherwise tightly closed, said means includfrom the description above that the only ing a valve member adapted to close said path from the interior to the exterior of thepassage-way when said cell is tilted at a precell for either gases or electrolyte, is through determined angle to its normal position, and the diagonall arranged tube 1.7 and valve tube means opening to the interio f aid member 6. t will be clear that it will be cell and to the exterior thereof at remote impossible for any electrolyte to escape from points. the cell until said cell is tilted at such an 4. Incombination, a storage battery cell angle that the tube 17 lies below the level aving cell walls, a cover and means proof the electrolyte. The angles of the cupviding a passage-way from the interior to shaped portion upon which the ball 14 rests the exterior of said cell, said cell being may be so designed that said ball 14 will otherwise tightly closed, said means inc udnot operate to close the valve member 6' ing a valve member located ad'acent to until such predetermined angle is. reached. one of said cell Walls and-adapte to close It will be apparent that the cell may be said passage-wa when said cell is'tilted at tilted at an angle of almost 90 degrees in a predetermine angle. 'to its normal posian direction from the vertical, be ore the tion, and a'tube communicating with said tuli e 17 will be entirely below the level of valve member and with the interior of said the electrolyte. While the cell is inclined at cell at a point remote from said valve meman angle less than this predetermined angle, her and substantially symmetrically argases may escape from the cell and at the ranged therewith .With reference to said same time the esca of electrolyte will. not cell. occur. Should sai predetermined an'le be 5. In combination,a storage battery cell exceeded, the valve .member 6 will be c osed of substantially rectan ular' outline having whereby to effectually prevent the escape 0 cell walls, a cover an means providing a electrolyte. Thou h the tube 17 will contain passage-way from the interior to the exteelectrolyte when t e cell is tipped at certain rior'of said cell, said cell bein otherwise angles, said electrolyte will run back into tightly closed, said means inclu ing a valve the cell when said cell is again returned to member located ad acent to one edge of said its normal vertical position. Though a cercell and adapted to close said passage-way tain amount of electrol e may collect when said cell is tilted at a predetermined around the ball 14, said e ectrolyte will do angle to its normal position,'and a tube com no harm and will run back through tube 17 municating with said valve member and when the cell is tipped at certain angles. with the interior of said cell at a-point re- 8 'mote from said valve member and symmetrically arranged therewith with reference to said cell.

6. In combination, a storage battery cell having cell walls, a cover and means pro viding a passage-way from the interior to the exterior of said cell, said cell being otherwise tightly closed, said passage-way communicating with the interior of said cell and with the exterior thereof at points remote 'from 0 e another, and a valve adapted to close said passage-way when said cell is tilted at a predetermined angle.

7. In combination, a storage battery cell of substantially rectangular outline having cell walls, a cover and means providing a passage-way from the interior to the exterior of said cell, said cell being otherwise tightly closed, said passage-Way communieating with the interior of said cell and with the exterior thereof at points located adjacent to diagonally opposite edges of said cell.

8. In combination, a storage battery cell having cell walls, a cover and a tube, said cell being tightly closed except through said tube, said tube being arranged in proximity to said cover and extending between remote points of said cell, said tube being provided with a valve adapted to prevent the passage of liquid through said tube when said cell is tilted at a predetermined angle. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CAMPBELL C. CARPENTER. 

